Vietnam responds to Global Handwashing Day

Pupils wash their hands with soap at the meeting in Hanoi to mark Global Handwashing Day on October 15 (Photo: hanoimoi)

Hanoi (VNA) – As many as 2,000 primary teachers and pupils in Hanoi joined
officials and delegates from international organisations at a meeting held in
the city on October 15 in response to Global Handwashing Day.

Speaking at the
event, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long said washing
hands with soap is a simple action but the rate of frequent hand-washing with
soap remains low in Vietnam, even at medical establishments.

Long stressed that
it is an effective and affordable way to prevent diseases such as
hand-foot-mouth disease, diarrhea and typhoid fever, particularly among pupils.

The official
called on sectors, administrations at all levels, organisations and media
agencies to join hands with the health sector in promoting communication
campaigns in different forms to raise public awareness of the importance of
hand-washing.

At the meeting,
the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education and Training and the Unilever
Vietnam Fund pledged to jointly carry out programmes on improving public health
and developing green, clean and strong schools in Vietnam for 2017-2022.

All participants
washed their hands with soap at the meeting.

Since 2008,
Vietnam has actively responded to Global Handwashing Day through various
communication campaigns.

Diarrhea, which
is caused by poor sanitation and clean water shortage, was ranked second among common
diseases in Vietnam. However, many locals are yet to form the habit of regular
hand-washing with soap.-VNA